The pieces drew inspiration from Japanese old master’s works from the 18th and 19th century and the paintings of Katsushika Hokusai, Katsukawa Shunsho and Shodo Kawarazaki. PHOTO: PUBLICITY
LAHORE: The mastermind behind the design house Studio S – Seher Tareen unveiled the Autumn/Winter’17 collection Hear Me Roar on November 4, in Lahore. The line featured some unusual designs with the trademark vibrancy of Studio S’s fashion sensibilities.
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Tareen, who has uplifted the fashion quotient in the industry with her quirky creations and signature saris, feels her fashion is very current yet unorthodox. Talking to The Express Tribune, she shared the inspiration behind her latest offerings. “When I design a collection, it is a form of self-expression. My feelings, thoughts and point of view form a visual language represented in each and every piece from the collection. Hear Me Roar, in particular, felt like a deeply personal self-expression.”
PHOTO: PUBLICITYThe pieces drew inspiration from Japanese old master’s works from the 18th and 19th century and the paintings of Katsushika Hokusai, Katsukawa Shunsho and Shodo Kawarazaki. The cuts and motifs used were also reminiscent of Japanese aesthetic. However the deeper meaning behind the collection was what gave it the name – Helen Reddy’s song I Am Woman that released in 1972 and became the anthem for the women's movement. While the designs reflected the work of different artists, the creations incorporated intricate floral embellishments and motifs of animals such as the tiger, leopard and fish that were taken from the works of Japanese artists, reflecting cultural diversity.
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The collection had an exciting range of fabrics and designs. “I have used all sorts of embellishments that suited the design of each piece. For example with the Blue Fish sari, I have only used beading in shades of blue written out as text. But then there is a Red Kimono that has completely gold and silver patches of work in floral motifs. The Kimono coat with mirror work in swirling patterns said ‘I can do anything’ on the belt, so the embellishments compliment the overall message of each piece and the entire collection,” added Tareen.
PHOTO: PUBLICITYTareen’s collection was for the women who believe in themselves. Hear Me Roar represents women who stand up for themselves and what they believe in. They own, accept and wear their real selves with transparency and pride. “The Hear Me Roar woman is free to be who she is and this is her true power. We as women must give ourselves the freedom to reclaim our identity and wear it like a badge of honour,” the designer said. “The edges of couture gowns were frayed and the kimonos were decorated with deconstructed patches of embellishment. Text was scattered across the collection with words from I Am Woman scribbled onto the pieces. There is abandon and rawness that contradicts the ethereal silhouettes and sheer fabrics that dominate the collection.
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Various artists such as Rabia Ajaz, Shakila Haider, Marium Qureshi and Zoha Khan participated in the show in their creative capacity. Talking about curating her solo show, Seher said, “I looked to the contemporary female artists of our generation to represent us. The artists themselves became the live installation, wearing the pieces from the collection and talking about what the collection represents, in their own experience, through their own practice and in their own words,” mentioned Tareen.
PHOTO: PUBLICITY“So the artist panel was created with Risham Syed, Aroosa Rana and Saba Khan, moderated by writer and feminist Mina Malik-Hussain. The intent was for their words, ideas and points of view to open up a larger discussion. Now is the time to roar.”
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